Your iPhone might experience issues from time to time. You might end up needing a replacement iPhone through AppleCare if these problems are unfixable by you or the Apple Store is unable to resolve them. One may wonder if the replacement iPhone is a brand-new one or a refurbished one.

In this article, we will discuss how to check if the replacement iPhone from Apple is new or if Apple gives refurbished iPhones as a replacement. 

Are AppleCare Replacement Phones New or Refurbished?

AppleCare will send you a brand-new phone if they replace your phone within the first 14 days of your purchase. AppleCare will replace your phone with a refurbished one after the first 14 days. Your device’s settings are the quickest and simplest place to check whether your AppleCare replacement iPhone is brand-new or refurbished. You can go a little further if you obtain your replacement through your wireless carrier. Your mind may be at ease once you have the information you’re looking for. 

It can be very frustrating when your brand-new iPhone breaks or has a defect. Accidents do occur, though, and technology could be more flawless. Accidents do occur, though, and technology could be more flawless. You can turn to AppleCare for a useful replacement if your iPhone is beyond saving.

There are steps you can take to figure out whether your replacement iPhone, for example, an iPhone 12 received through AppleCare, is a brand-new or refurbished iPhone 12: 

1. Check Your iPhone’s Model Number

By looking at the iPhone’s model number, you can quickly determine whether your AppleCare replacement iPhone is brand new or refurbished.

Go to Settings on your iPhone and select General to accomplish this. Next, select About.

The fourth choice down is the Model Number.

You have a brand-new iPhone if its model number starts with the letter “M.”

On the other hand, if your AppleCare replacement iPhone’s model number begins with the letter “N,” it is a replacement.

Model numbers for iPhone replacements that you can purchase from your wireless provider begin with the letter “F.” However, those iPhones are not genuine Apple products; instead, they are replacements obtained directly from the carrier.

Please note that any model numbers listed above are distinct from any model numbers that may start with the letter “A” and appear on the back of your iPhone.

2. Another Way To Check Your iPhone’s Model Number

You can also see the model number in the SIM card tray slot if you have an iPhone as recent as the iPhone 8 or higher.

You must take out the SIM card tray to check your model number. It’s easy to remove the SIM card tray from the slot on your iPhone.

Push the SIM card tray into the hole using your iPhone’s SIM card tray removal tool. You should be able to remove it once it gently pops open.

This method also allows you to verify that the model number of your AppleCare replacement iPhone is the same.

A new iPhone has a model number that starts with the letter “M,” while a refurbished iPhone has a model number that begins with the letter “N.”

What Criteria Does Apple Use When Replacing An iPhone?

In addition, you might be curious about Apple’s policy regarding exchanging a defective iPhone that is not repairable.

You can get a brand-new iPhone as a replacement through AppleCare if you purchased your iPhone within the last 14 days and need one because its problems cannot be fixed.

Even if your iPhone is still covered by warranty, you’ll get a refurbished model if you’ve had it for a while.

If the customer has owned the device for more than 14 days, Apple’s policy is to replace it with a refurbished iPhone.

If all of Apple’s refurbished model iPhones are sold out, that rule is the only one that applies.

Any remaining warranties will be transferred to the new iPhone if you purchase a refurbished iPhone to replace your old one.

Remember that a replacement iPhone you receive through AppleCare is never referred to as a “refurbished” model. However, Apple typically offers the customer a replacement that has been refurbished but otherwise is in like-new condition. Therefore, if you ever need to replace your iPhone for any reason, the replacement you get will look brand-new to you.

Other than the “N” at the beginning of the model number, you won’t be able to tell that it’s a refurbished model. It is simple to determine whether your AppleCare replacement iPhone is brand-new or refurbished. You can always view the model number in the settings to see whether it starts with an “M” or an “N,” Thanks to Apple, you can be sure that your replacement iPhone is a refurb that is always like new.

Conclusion 

If AppleCare replaces your phone within the first 14 days of your purchase, they’ll send you a brand-new device. After 14 days, AppleCare will exchange your phone for a refurbished model. However, if you want to ensure that your replacement iPhone is new or refurbished, you can use the two ways explained in this article to check if the phone is new or refurbished. You can buy a refurbished phone, like a refurbished iPhone 12, from retailers other than Apple at a reasonable price.